North Carolinians rise to take action
To counter the coup of the 2010 election.
When Citizens United enabled traction
For Art Pope to buy a republican defection.

Their work to eliminate North Carolina’s progress
Means all of us need to take action to address
The landslide of retrogressive laws
That were provided by ALEC for a conservative cause.

Pride in our Education;
Best land trust system in the nation.
North Carolinians beware
Change has come and we must prepare.
We can’t underestimate the harm that has been done
By the 2013 litany of legislation that was begun!

Voter suppression laws the worst in the land
Targeting vulnerable groups as the GOP planned.

Guns allowed in playgrounds & parks,
Restaurants and bars, school parking lots!

No Medicaid extension under the Affordable Care Act
Half a million left without heath care a fact.

The centerpiece for the GOP
Tax cuts for the rich all agree.
One billion dollars from the till
When most of us struggle to pay our bills.
Where does the money come from to pay
For the richest of us to get a big pay day?

The earned income tax credit program for the very poor
Was the first to fly out the door.
Then there were reductions in funding
For health assistance programs & regulatory function.
The poorest of poor are paying the price
And middle class goals are put on ice.
The worst of the GOP offenses though
The slashing of education, oh no!

First elimination of thousands of jobs
For teachers and assistants increasing class size.
Pre-K programs for at-risk kids were taken
Supplemental pay and teachers’ raises forsaken.
National ranking may drop to forty-eight.
Teachers to survive are leaving in droves from the state.

Unemployment benefits were slashed so that
NC was dropped from Federal Relief funding flat.
The only state thus far to be honored;
The 780 million could have helped our economy!

Decimating our Natural Heritage Program,
Blocking local governments from environmental action,
Replacing members of the state’s key environmental commissions,
With people opposed to sensible regulation the mission.
Climate Change denied and fracking enforced;
Stewardship in North Carolina has not been endorsed

Gerrymandering is a particular tempest
But we cannot wait for the 2020 census.
We need to work for nonpartisan redistricting
To change the egregious GOP districting.

Get all of your friends to register then
We’ll be ready to get the win!

Are we ready to move?
Are we ready to take action?
Can we change the course?
Can we thwart the distraction?
Can we get back to governing?
To our own satisfaction?

What is the proper antidote?
Why we the people have to vote!